BIO: John NOWRY, Clearfield County, PA
 
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From Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania,
and Representative Citizens, by Roland D. Swoope, Jr.,
Chicago: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, 1911, page 620.
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  JOHN NOWRY, a prosperous farmer of Burnside township, was born in Burnside 
township, October 20, 1862, a son of Robert and Eliza (Smith) Nowry.  His 
paternal grandfather, also named Robert, was a soldier in the War of 1812.
  Robert Nowry, the father of our subject, was born in Pennsylvania in 1835 and 
came to Clearfield county when a young man.  He was a machine blacksmith by 
trade, but on coming to this section he engaged in the lumber business, in which 
he was reasonably successful.  His death took place in 1868.  His wife, Mrs. 
Eliza Smith Nowry, is still living and resides on the old homestead, being now 
82 years of age.  She is a daughter of John and Rebecca (Dane) Smith, who came 
to America from County Leitrim, Ireland.  In addition to John, the subject of 
this sketch, there are three of her daughters now living, namely:  Elizabeth, 
wife of T. B. Davis of Burnside township; Minnie, wife of Ed Shumway, of Chester 
City, Pa.; and Birdie, who is the wife of John McCormick of Philadelphia.
  John Nowry, with his sisters, after their father's death, was cared for by an 
uncle, and he subsequently resided with them until his own death in 1908.  He 
was then quite an elderly man, having taken part in the gold rush to California 
in 1849, and was familiarly known as "Uncle Ed."  He has been engaged since 
early manhood in farming and lumbering, having followed successfully in his 
father's footsteps, and is now one of the prosperous citizens of the township.  
He is a member of the Protestant Methodist church, and is a Republican 
politically.  He has been supervisor of his township for almost twenty years, 
and has also served as committeeman.  He has done active and useful work for his 
party and believes that it is every citizen's duty to see that good government 
is maintained.
  Mr. Nowry married Miss Laura Ball, of Big Rapids, Mich.  She was born in 1868, 
her parents being John and Rosanna (Baer) Ball.  Her father, who was born in 
Ohio, was an officer in the Union army during the Civil war, enlisting with four 
brothers, in Company D, 35th Illinois Regiment.  His wife's father was a native 
of Virginia.  Mr. and Mrs. Nowry have one adopted child, Nellie, now aged ten 
years.